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Tuesday, 15 April 2014

I have just returned from our first weekend retreat at Cober Hill and what a great time everyone had - so much so that I am already planning the next one ! We hope to get one organised for October/ November time and then a spring one next year again.

I would like to thank all the group for being so ready to " go with the flow " as we had a few hiccups. But overall there was a lot of laughter, a lot of lovely food and we did achieve quite a bit of sewing. I think it reached its peak at 10.45pm on Saturday night as some of us ended up singing along to Michael Ball songs while still sewing in the workroom.!! I think the security guard on his rounds did not know quite what to make of us !!

The group were all keen to participate in the group quilt for Siblings Together and we completed the top by the end of the weekend using a string block and quilt as you go. We just have to complete the sashing and it will be ready for posting off.

We planned it to be suitable for a young teenage boy as these sort of quilts are not donated as frequently.

Some of the group have also made individual quilts so I hope to be able to send 5 off to the charity office in London after our next meeting in May.

I did not get much of my own projects done as I was kept busy with the organising and checking on the housekeeping but thoroughly enjoyed it and will know next time what to be more aware of.

The weekend did include a car trip down to the Scarborough SEwing shop of course!

I also forgot to take some pics of everyone's projects as there were some lovely quilts being worked on as well as bags and cushions.

So thanks to everyone for making it such a great time together and looking forward to the next time.

Thursday, 3 April 2014

Last month I replied to Cheri, The Quilting nanny at Fabrics and Memories who was wanting to make an ISpy quilt and was looking to swop fabric to get a good selection of blocks for her quilt. As I had recently finished one myself I offered to send her some blocks I thought she might find useful. In return she kindly offered to spend me a selection of fabrics from her stash. I decided I would like some of her Civil War prints and these arrived last week. There was a lovely selection of charm squares and I wanted to find something which would make best use of them. I have been seeing a lot of pins about the Lucy Boston Patchwork of the Crosses quilt and after some more browsing the web I decided that these charms would be ideal as the focus fabric in each cross. I decided a wall hanging a bit like this one would be a good size to aim for

I pulled some coordinating prints from my own stash and set to work printing out the paper. I managed to get one cross started and this will be a great hand sewing project to take away with me on our first caravan trip this weekend and perhaps be the on-going project for this summer as it will be portable and easy to carry with me.

I finished the Wacky House quilt despite being driven mad by the spotty backing - I could not get it straight but persevered and it does not look too bad. This is the first of my quilts for Siblings Together and I hope to get the second one finished at the Quilt Retreat next weekend. We will also be trying to get two group quilts done as well during the weekend.

"Florry " has been busy helping me with a summer top for my daughter - it makes it a lot easier having something to model it on and get the shoulders right. I might never make the Great British Sewing Bee which reaches its final next week - but it has been good to try some dressmaking for a change. This just needs the short sleeves adding.

About Me

I am now retired having worked in a University for 15 years as an academic head of a faculty. I have been an Occupational Therapist for over 30 years -I now enjoying spending time quilting,machine embroidery and knitting - and also watercolour painting. I enjoy reading others blogs and finding new ideas